Ageratum plant named &#39;Agrotwo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Ageratum  plant named ‘Agrotwo’ characterized by its large, red-purple flowers, early flowering, strongly branched plant habit and vigorous growth.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Ageratum houstonianum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Agrotwo’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Ageratum,botanically known as Ageratum houstonianum.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of‘W 74-1’ as female parent and the variety ‘Agrosamtis’ as male parent.This cross was made in October 2001. ‘W 74-1’ is not commerciallyavailable and is not patented. ‘Agrosamtis’ is commercially availableand is patented as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,631.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was selected in August2002 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexuallyreproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The present cultivarwas tested in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in Gilroy, USA, and in Sarrians,France over a three year period. The distinctive characteristics of thisnew Ageratum are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. It takes 6 to 8 weeks to produce afinished plant, depending on the temperature.

This new Ageratum plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Agrotwo.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Agrotwo’ as a new and distinct Ageratumcultivar:

-   -   1. Vigorous, upright and mounded growth habit    -   2. Freely branching habit    -   3. Freely flowering habit with large capitula in compound umbels    -   4. Large, red-purple capitula on green colored leaves

Plants of the new Ageratum differ primarily from the plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

Plants of the new Ageratum have medium red-purple colored capitulawhereas plants of the female parent selection have purple capitula.

Plants of the new Ageratum differ primarily from the male plantselection in the following characteristics:

Plants of the new Ageratum have medium red-purple colored capitulawhereas plants of the female parent selection have purple capitula.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Ageratum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color showing being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Ageratum. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 20 week oldplants, blossomed under natural light in the field.

Color readings were taken in the laboratory under ambient light. Colorreferences are primarily to the RHS Color Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London. TABLE 1 Differences between the newcultivar ‘Agrotwo’ and a similar cultivar ‘Agrosamtis’ (U.S. Pat.‘Agrotwo’ No. 15,631) Plant height 30 cm 20 cm Plant spread 55 cm 25 cm

-   The plant:    -   -   Classification — Botanical.—Ageratum houstonianum.        -   Growth habit.—Ascending, well branched.        -   Plant height.—27-33 cm.        -   Spreading area of plant.—55-60 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.        -   Strength.—Very good.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching            at every node.        -   Blooming period.—Year round.-   The stem:    -   -   Stem length.—24-29 cm.        -   Diameter.—3-4 mm.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Color.—RHS 144B.        -   Anthocyan pigmentation.—Absent.        -   Length of internode.—14-42 mm, depending on the light where            the plant is propagated.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.-   The foliage:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite, decussate.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Slightly pubescent Lower side: Slightly            pubescent.        -   Venation.—Reticulate.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Length.—23-33 mm.        -   Width.—22-33 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: Dark green RHS 137A Lower side: Medium            green RHS 137C.        -   Pubescence.—Some pubescence is present.        -   Length of petiole.—5-9 mm.        -   Diameter of petiole.—2 mm.        -   Color of petiole.—145C light green.        -   Petiole surface texture.—Slightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Compound umbel of capitula.        -   Number of inflorescence per plant.—180-200.        -   Umbel width.—2.8-3.3 cm.        -   Umbel depth.—1.4-1.8 cm.        -   Length of peduncle.—11-28 mm.        -   Diameter of peduncle.—2.5 mm.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 145B.        -   Length of pedicel.—5-9 mm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—1.5 mm.        -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 143C.        -   Number of capitula per inflorescence.—5-9.        -   Number of disc florets per capitulum.—50-85.        -   Capitulum in bud stage from the start.—Round, flat            capitulum, showing unopened florets.        -   Number of ray florets.—0.        -   Shape of the corolla of the disc floret.—Actinomorph.        -   Number of lobes.—5.        -   Length of disc floret.—3 mm.        -   Diameter of disc floret.—1.5 mm.        -   Color of disc floret.—Upper side: RHS 65C Lower side: RHS            69D.        -   Number of phyllaries per capitulum.—25-30.        -   Length of phyllaries.—3 mm.        -   Diameter of phyllaries.—1 mm.        -   Color of phyllaries.—Upper side: RHS 143C with tip RHS N186C            Lower side: RHS 138D with tip RHS N186C.        -   Diameter of capitulum at beginning of flowering.—6 mm.        -   Depth of capitulum.—4-5 mm.        -   Color of capitulum at beginning of flowering.—RHS 70A.        -   Diameter of capitulum at full flowering.—8-9 mm.        -   Color of capitulum at full flowering.—RHS N155D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Number of pistils.—1.        -   Shape of pistils.—Style with two filliform branches.        -   Length of stigma and style.—5-6 mm.        -   Color of stigma.—RHS N155D.        -   Inferior ovary.—5 ribbed.        -   Pappus.—Short.        -   Number of anthers.—5, connate in a tube, filaments free.        -   Shape of anthers.—Ecalcarate.        -   Pollen.—A little pollen is present.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS N155A.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Lastingness of the bloom.—The capitula of one umbel open            over a period of 3-4 weeks.        -   Seedset.—Has seedset.-   Seed:    -   -   Shape.—Pentagonal.        -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 mm.        -   Color.—RHS 202A.        -   Pappus.—Very short.-   Roots:    -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous. Roots start to grow on every part of            the stem that contacts the soil, so not only at the nodes.-   Physiological and ecological characteristics: Good tolerance to heat    and cold, but no frost tolerance. Strong tolerance to pests and    diseases.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ageratum houstonianum plant named‘Agrotwo’, as substantially illustrated and described herein.